Senior Estimator / Preconstruction Manager – Luxury Custom Homes

The Contractor Consultants; Palo Alto (CA); On-site; USD 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Nejasmich Developments is seeking a Pre-Construction Manager / Senior Estimator to lead the full preconstruction process for high-end luxury residential projects across the Peninsula and Bay Area. You will drive feasibility, estimating, scope development, subcontractor coordination, and client-focused budget strategy.

This role sits at the center of a modern construction company defined by organization, transparency, building science, disciplined execution, and exceptional client experience.

Qualifications

• Significant experience estimating high-end residential construction projects.
• Strong understanding of residential construction assemblies, sequencing, and project logistics.
• Strong financial acumen with the ability to maintain estimate accuracy and margin discipline.
• Ability to read and interpret architectural, structural, and engineering drawings.
• Exceptional attention to detail and strong organizational systems.
• Strong communication and leadership skills with a calm, solutions-oriented style.
• Ability to manage multiple preconstruction efforts simultaneously.
• Proven ability to work effectively with clients, architects, designers, consultants, and subcontractors.

Responsibilities

• Lead projects from early feasibility through final construction contract with minimal oversight.
• Build detailed conceptual, schematic, and final estimates for custom residential homes.
• Develop scopes of work, bid packages, and trade leveling comparisons to support procurement clarity.
• Identify scope gaps, design conflicts, sequencing issues, and budget risk early in the process.
• Support constructability reviews, scheduling strategy, logistics planning, and long-lead procurement decisions.
• Lead value engineering conversations while protecting quality, intent, and client trust.
• Prepare polished proposals, budgets, and client presentations with a high degree of professionalism.
• Create organized handoff packages that transition projects cleanly into production.
• Strengthen estimating systems, templates, assemblies, and documentation standards across the company.
• Protect project profitability, schedule realism, operational clarity, and subcontractor alignment.

Skills

Communication

Leadership

Multi-project management

Attention to detail

Reading drawings

Estimating

Tools

Buildertrend

BuilderBid

Bluebeam

Takeoff software

Job description

Job Overview

• Title: Pre-Construction Manager / Senior Estimator
• Company: Nejasmich Developments.
• Salary/Pay Rate: $110,000 to $160,000 per year (Plus Year-End Bonus).
• Location: San Mateo, CA.
• Job/Employment Type: Full-Time.
• Schedule: Full-Time — Monday to Friday.
• Project Scope: High-End Custom Residential Homes.

The Opportunity

You will lead the full preconstruction process for highly detailed luxury residential projects across the Peninsula and Bay Area. This role places you at the center of project feasibility, estimating, scope development, subcontractor coordination, and client-facing budget strategy. You will help shape a modern construction company defined by organization, transparency, building science, disciplined execution, and exceptional client experience.

How You Will Make An Impact

• Lead projects from early feasibility through final construction contract with minimal oversight.
• Build detailed conceptual, schematic, and final estimates for custom residential homes.
• Develop scopes of work, bid packages, and trade leveling comparisons to support procurement clarity.
• Identify scope gaps, design conflicts, sequencing issues, and budget risk early in the process.
• Support constructability reviews, scheduling strategy, logistics planning, and long-lead procurement decisions.
• Lead value engineering conversations while protecting quality, intent, and client trust.
• Prepare polished proposals, budgets, and client presentations with a high degree of professionalism.
• Create organized handoff packages that transition projects cleanly into production.
• Strengthen estimating systems, templates, assemblies, and documentation standards across the company.
• Protect project profitability, schedule realism, operational clarity, and subcontractor alignment.

Required Qualifications & Experience

• Significant experience estimating high-end residential construction projects.
• Strong understanding of residential construction assemblies, sequencing, and project logistics.
• Strong financial acumen with the ability to maintain estimate accuracy and margin discipline.
• Ability to read and interpret architectural, structural, and engineering drawings.
• Exceptional attention to detail and strong organizational systems.
• Strong communication and leadership skills with a calm, solutions-oriented style.
• Ability to manage multiple preconstruction efforts simultaneously.
• Proven ability to work effectively with clients, architects, designers, consultants, and subcontractors.

Preferred Qualifications & Experience

• Luxury custom home estimating experience.
• Existing Bay Area subcontractor and vendor relationships.
• Experience with Buildertrend.
• Experience with BuilderBid, Bluebeam, and other takeoff or estimating software.
• Strong building science knowledge.
• Field construction experience.

Compensation & Benefits

• Competitive base salary ranging supplemented by an annual year-end performance bonus.
• Stable financial infrastructure featuring an established retirement savings program and consistent full-time hours.
• Comprehensive health protection coverage options including enterprise medical insurance plan frameworks.
• Generous paid time off package covering national holidays, accrued vacation, and personal sick days.
• Corporate technology package including an upgraded smartphone or digital tablet for integrated operational use.
• Supportive, tight-knit workplace culture centered on professional excellence, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
• Supportive, high-performance work environment centered on professionalism, systems, and continuous improvement.
• Opportunity to help build a best-in-class company with strong standards and long-term reputation.

About Us

Nejasmich Developments is a premier custom residential general contractor dedicated to building beautiful, multi-million dollar homes with purpose. We reject isolated workflows, choosing instead to foster a collaborative, high-performance environment where every team member’s voice is valued. Our leadership invests directly in centralized operational backing, modern technology, and individual professional growth.

Nejasmich Developments is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, gender expression, and sexual orientation), parental status, national origin, age, disability, genetic information (including family medical history), political affiliation, military service, or any other status protected by law or regulations. It is our intention that all qualified applicants be given equal opportunity and that selection decisions be based on job-related factors.